February 20, 2024

Your ultimate guide to security frameworks

Trust is a vital part of any growing business. A part of earning and keeping the trust of your customers is implementing the right security measures to protect their data and your systems from any breaches that could impact them.

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By aligning with industry-vetted security frameworks, you’ll be able to build a strong security posture that protects your systems and earns customer trust. There are many security frameworks that could be applied to your infrastructure. In this blog, we’ll help you understand what types of information security frameworks are out there.

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What is a security framework?

A security framework is a set of security controls, policies, and procedures designed to protect your data. These frameworks offer industry expertise and recommendations that can enhance your security posture, earn customer trust, and secure your ecosystem.

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While all aim to protect your data, systems, and infrastructure in some way, each framework has a unique purpose and structure. Many offer recommended practices and controls to include in your security program while others offer loose guidelines. Some frameworks serve as attestations that allow you to demonstrate your security to your customers, such as a SOC 2 report or ISO 27001 certification.

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Why do you need a security framework?

There’s immense value your organization can gain by implementing a security framework. The benefits that you realize will depend on the security frameworks you choose to implement, the size of your organization, and your unique security needs.

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Some of the most common advantages of implementing a security framework include:

Establishing the foundation of your information security program if you’re just building it out.
Strengthening your security posture and protecting your data using industry best practices.
Getting compliant with in-demand security and privacy attestations needed to meet customer expectations.
Benchmarking you can use to ensure your security strategy is consistent with others in your industry.

Types of cybersecurity frameworks

There are several types of security frameworks that each serve a specific purpose in the broader landscape of cybersecurity. Here's an overview of the different types of cybersecurity frameworks:

Control frameworks: These frameworks provide a set of best practices and standards designed to manage and mitigate specific cybersecurity risks. These frameworks offer detailed guidelines on the technical and administrative controls organizations can implement to secure their systems and data.
Program frameworks: These frameworks focus on the overall management of cybersecurity efforts within an organization. They provide a structured approach to establishing, managing, and improving a company's cybersecurity program, ensuring that cybersecurity activities are aligned with business objectives.
Compliance frameworks: These frameworks offer a way for organizations to attest that they meet specific regulatory requirements related to cybersecurity and data protection. While some frameworks are optional, others are required by law or industry standards, where non-compliance may result in penalties.
Privacy frameworks: Privacy frameworks are security frameworks with a specific focus on data privacy. They concentrate on the management and protection of personal information and provide guidance on how to collect, use, store, and share customer and consumer data in a way that upholds consumer privacy rights.
Risk frameworks: These are designed to identify, assess, and prioritize cybersecurity risks to an organization's operations, assets, and individuals. They help organizations understand the potential impact of various cybersecurity threats and make informed decisions about risk management strategies.

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19 common security frameworks

There are a variety of information security frameworks to choose from that are trusted by industry experts. Each one includes unique controls, covers particular regions or industries, and serves a distinct purpose that sets it apart from other frameworks.

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Here are the most prominent security frameworks you need to know:

SOC 2: Largely used in North America, this framework results in a detailed report of your security controls you can use to demonstrate your security posture with your customers.
ISO 27001: Global benchmark to demonstrate an elective information security management system (ISMS) that lays out extensive security controls and processes that you’re required to implement should you wish to attain an ISO 27001 certification.
ISO 27017: An extension of the ISO 27001 standard, this provides guidelines on information security controls to address the specific needs of cloud computing.
ISO 27701: A framework that serves as an extension to ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 for privacy information management. It provides guidance on how to manage and protect personal data.
ISO 27018: Establishes controls to protect personally identifiable information (PII) in public cloud computing environments.
HIPAA: A legally mandated framework that US healthcare organizations must comply with to protect patient and consumer health data.
GDPR: A law by the European Union that provides policies and practices companies must follow to protect consumer data privacy. This is legally required by any organization that collects data from EU residents.
CCPA/CPRA: A regulation by the state of California that grants its residents data privacy rights.
PCI DSS: A framework that protects consumer payment detail and is required for any organization that processes payments.
NIST CSF: Provides voluntary guidance, based on existing standards, guidelines, and practices for organizations to better manage and reduce cybersecurity risk.
NIST 800-53: Provides recommended requirements for protecting the confidentiality of controlled unclassified information (CUI) for those working with the US government.
NIST 800-171: A catalog of security and privacy controls for all US federal information systems, except those related to national security.
FedRAMP: Is required by certain cloud service providers and cloud-based products in order to serve US federal agencies.
Minimum Viable Secure Product (MVSP): A minimalistic security checklist for B2B software and business process outsourcing suppliers.
Open Finance Data Security Standard (OFDSS): A cloud-first security framework that enhances data security for FinTech companies.
AWS Foundational Technical Review (FTR): A mandatory requirement for access to several AWS Partner benefits including, the AWS Competency Program and the AWS ISV Accelerate Program.
Microsoft SSPA: A mandatory compliance program for Microsoft suppliers working with personal data and/or Microsoft confidential data.
Essential Eight: Commonly used requirements from the ACSC in Australia for hardening IT environments against attacks. Specifically designed to impose technical cost on attackers as opposed to being a broad information security and compliance governance framework.
Cyber Essentials: Commonly accepted requirements from the UK's NCSC for hardening IT environments against attacks. Specifically designed to impose technical cost on attackers as opposed to being a broad information security and compliance governance framework.

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Automate your alignment with security frameworks

Aligning your security program to these frameworks can be difficult to manage and time-consuming when done manually. With Vanta’s Trust Management Platform with compliance automation capabilities, you can streamline your alignment with the security frameworks your business needs.

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Vanta offers several out-of-the-box frameworks that make it easy for your organizations to get the right controls and policies in place to adhere to the frameworks you choose. We even offer custom frameworks for organizations with tailored security needs.

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‍Explore all of our out-of-the-box security frameworks and start automating our security program.

Pre-work for your SOC 2 compliance

Choose the right type of SOC 2 report:

Do you sell goods or services to EU businesses, consumers, or both?

Determine the framework for your SOC 2 report. Of the five Trust Service Criteria in SOC 2, every organization needs to comply with the first criteria (security), but you only need to assess and document the other criteria that apply. Determining your framework involves deciding which Trust Service Criteria and controls are applicable to your business using our Trust Service Criteria Guide.

Estimate the resources you expect to need. This will vary depending on how closely you already align with SOC 2 security controls, but it can include several costs such as:

Compliance software

Engineers and potentially consultants

Security tools, such as access control systems

Administrative resources to draft security policies

Auditing for your compliance certification

Choose the right type of SOC 2 report:

Do you sell goods or services to EU businesses, consumers, or both?

Work toward SOC 2 compliance

Begin with an initial assessment of your system using compliance automation software to determine which necessary controls and practices you have already implemented and which you still need to put in place.

Review your Vanta report to determine any controls and protocols within the “Security” Trust Service Criteria that you do not yet meet and implement these one by one. These are multi-tiered controls across several categories of security, including:

CC1: Control Environment

CC2: Communication and Information

CC3: Risk Assessment

CC4: Monitoring Activities

CC5: Control Activities

CC6: Logical and Physical Access Controls

CC7: System Operations

CC8: Change Management

CC9: Risk Mitigation

Using Vanta’s initial assessment report as a to-do list, address each of the applicable controls in the other Trust Services Criteria that you identified in your initial framework, but that you have not yet implemented.

Using Vanta’s initial assessment report, draft security policies and protocols that adhere to the standards outlined in SOC 2.  

Vanta’s tool includes thorough and user-friendly templates to make this simpler and save time for your team.

Run Vanta’s automated compliance software again to determine if you have met all the necessary criteria and controls for your SOC 2 report and to document your compliance with these controls.

Complete a SOC 2 report audit

Select and hire an auditor affiliated with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the organization that developed and supports SOC 2.

Complete a readiness assessment with this auditor to determine if you have met the minimum standards to undergo a full audit.

If your readiness assessment indicates that there are SOC 2 controls you need to address before your audit, complete these requirements. However, if you have automated compliance software to guide your preparations and your SOC 2 compliance, this is unlikely.

Undergo a full audit with your SOC 2 report auditor. This may involve weeks or longer of working with your auditor to provide the documentation they need. Vanta simplifies your audit, however, by compiling your compliance evidence and documentation into one platform your auditor can access directly.

When you pass your audit, the auditor will present you with your SOC 2 report to document and verify your compliance.

Maintain your SOC 2 compliance annually

Establish a system or protocol to regularly monitor your SOC 2 compliance and identify any breaches of your compliance, as this can happen with system updates and changes.

Promptly address any gaps in your compliance that arise, rather than waiting until your next audit.

Undergo a SOC 2 re-certification audit each year with your chosen SOC 2 auditor to renew your certification.

Download this checklist for easy reference

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Prioritizing Your Security and Opening Doors with SOC 2 Compliance

Information security is a vital priority for any business today from an ethical standpoint and from a business standpoint. Not only could a data breach jeopardize your revenue but many of your future clients and partners may require a SOC 2 report before they consider your organization. Achieving and maintaining your SOC 2 compliance can open countless doors, and you can simplify the process with the help of the checklist above and Vanta s compliance automation software. Request a demo today to learn more about how we can help you protect and grow your organization.

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Request a demo

Develop a roadmap for successful implementation of an ISMS and ISO 27001 certification

Implement Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) process to recognize challenges and identify gaps for remediation

Consider ISO 27001 certification costs relative to org size and number of employees

Clearly define scope of work to plan certification time to completion

Select an ISO 27001 auditor

Set the scope of your organization’s ISMS

Decide which business areas are covered by the ISMS and which are out of scope

Consider additional security controls for business processes that are required to pass ISMS-protected information across the trust boundary

Inform stakeholders regarding scope of the ISMS

Establish an ISMS governing body

Build a governance team with management oversight

Incorporate key members of top management, e.g. senior leadership and executive management with responsibility for strategy and resource allocation

Conduct an inventory of information assets

Consider all assets where information is stored, processed, and accessible

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Record information assets: data and people
Record physical assets: laptops, servers, and physical building locations
Record intangible assets: intellectual property, brand, and reputation

Assign to each asset a classification and owner responsible for ensuring the asset is appropriately inventoried, classified, protected, and handled

Execute a risk assessment

Establish and document a risk-management framework to ensure consistency

Identify scenarios in which information, systems, or services could be compromised

Determine likelihood or frequency with which these scenarios could occur

Evaluate potential impact of each scenario on confidentiality, integrity, or availability of information, systems, and services

Rank risk scenarios based on overall risk to the organization’s objectives

Develop a risk register

Record and manage your organization’s risks

Summarize each identified risk

Indicate the impact and likelihood of each risk

Document a risk treatment plan

Design a response for each risk (Risk Treatment)

Assign an accountable owner to each identified risk

Assign risk mitigation activity owners

Establish target dates for completion of risk treatment activities

Complete the Statement of Applicability worksheet

Review 114 controls of Annex A of ISO 27001 standard

Select controls to address identified risks

Complete the Statement of Applicability listing all Annex A controls, justifying inclusion or exclusion of each control in the ISMS implementation

Continuously assess and manage risk

Build a framework for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving the ISMS

Include information or references to supporting documentation regarding:

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Information Security Objectives
Leadership and Commitment
Roles, Responsibilities, and Authorities
Approach to Assessing and Treating Risk
Control of Documented Information
Communication
Internal Audit
Management Review
Corrective Action and Continual Improvement
Policy Violations

Assemble required documents and records

Review ISO 27001 Required Documents and Records list

Customize policy templates with organization-specific policies, process, and language

Establish employee training and awareness programs

Conduct regular trainings to ensure awareness of new policies and procedures

Define expectations for personnel regarding their role in ISMS maintenance

Train personnel on common threats facing your organization and how to respond

Establish disciplinary or sanctions policies or processes for personnel found out of compliance with information security requirements

Perform an internal audit

Allocate internal resources with necessary competencies who are independent of ISMS development and maintenance, or engage an independent third party

Verify conformance with requirements from Annex A deemed applicable in your ISMS's Statement of Applicability

Share internal audit results, including nonconformities, with the ISMS governing body and senior management

Address identified issues before proceeding with the external audit

Undergo external audit of ISMS to obtain ISO 27001 certification

Engage an independent ISO 27001 auditor

Conduct Stage 1 Audit consisting of an extensive documentation review; obtain feedback regarding readiness to move to Stage 2 Audit

Conduct Stage 2 Audit consisting of tests performed on the ISMS to ensure proper design, implementation, and ongoing functionality; evaluate fairness, suitability, and effective implementation and operation of controls

Address any nonconformities

Ensure that all requirements of the ISO 27001 standard are being addressed

Ensure org is following processes that it has specified and documented

Ensure org is upholding contractual requirements with third parties

Address specific nonconformities identified by the ISO 27001 auditor

Receive auditor’s formal validation following resolution of nonconformities

Conduct regular management reviews

Plan reviews at least once per year; consider a quarterly review cycle

Ensure the ISMS and its objectives continue to remain appropriate and effective

Ensure that senior management remains informed

Ensure adjustments to address risks or deficiencies can be promptly implemented

Calendar ISO 27001 audit schedule and surveillance audit schedules

Perform a full ISO 27001 audit once every three years

Prepare to perform surveillance audits in the second and third years of the Certification Cycle

Consider streamlining ISO 27001 certification with automation

Explore tools for automating security and compliance

Transform manual data collection and observation processes into automated and continuous system monitoring

Identify and close any gaps in ISMS implementation in a timely manner

Learn more about achieving ISO 27001 certification with Vanta

Book an ISO 27001 demo with Vanta

Download this checklist for easy reference

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Determine which annual audits and assessments are required for your company

Perform a readiness assessment and evaluate your security against HIPAA requirements

Review the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights Audit Protocol

Conduct required HIPAA compliance audits and assessments

Perform and document ongoing technical and non-technical evaluations, internally or in partnership with a third-party security and compliance team like Vanta

Document your plans and put them into action

Document every step of building, implementing, and assessing your compliance program

Vanta’s automated compliance reporting can streamline planning and documentation

Appoint a security and compliance point person in your company

Designate an employee as your HIPAA Compliance Officer

Schedule annual HIPAA training for all employees

Distribute HIPAA policies and procedures and ensure staff read and attest to their review

Document employee trainings and other compliance activities

Thoroughly document employee training processes, activities, and attestations

Establish and communicate clear breach report processes
to all employees

Ensure that staff understand what constitutes a HIPAA breach, and how to report a breach

Implement systems to track security incidents, and to document and report all breaches

Institute an annual review process

Annually assess compliance activities against theHIPAA Rules and updates to HIPAA

Continuously assess and manage risk

Build a year-round risk management program and integrate continuous monitoring

Understand the ins and outs of HIPAA compliance— and the costs of noncompliance

Download this checklist for easy reference

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Written by

Jess Munday

Access Review Stage	Content / Functionality
Across all stages	Easily create and save a new access review at a point in time View detailed audit evidence of historical access reviews
Setup access review procedures	Define a global access review procedure that stakeholders can follow, ensuring consistency and mitigation of human error in reviews Set your access review frequency (monthly, quarterly, etc.) and working period/deadlines
Consolidate account access data from systems	Integrate systems using dozens of pre-built integrations, or “connectors”. System account and HRIS data is pulled into Vanta. Upcoming integrations include Zoom and Intercom (account access), and Personio (HRIS) Upload access files from non-integrated systems View and select systems in-scope for the review
Review, approve, and deny user access	Select the appropriate systems reviewer and due date Get automatic notifications and reminders to systems reviewer of deadlines Automatic flagging of “risky” employee accounts that have been terminated or switched departments Intuitive interface to see all accounts with access, account accept/deny buttons, and notes section Track progress of individual systems access reviews and see accounts that need to be removed or have access modified Bulk sort, filter, and alter accounts based on account roles and employee title
Assign remediation tasks to system owners	Built-in remediation workflow for reviewers to request access changes and for admin to view and manage requests Optional task tracker integration to create tickets for any access changes and provide visibility to the status of tickets and remediation
Verify changes to access	Focused view of accounts flagged for access changes for easy tracking and management Automated evidence of remediation completion displayed for integrated systems Manual evidence of remediation can be uploaded for non-integrated systems
Report and re-evaluate results	Auditor can log into Vanta to see history of all completed access reviews Internals can see status of reviews in progress and also historical review detail